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Michigan lame duck passed several ag measures

Michigan Farm Bureau says a number of elements in the state’s energy reform will have an impact on agriculture.

Manager of state government relations Matt Smego tells Brownfield the two bill package that passed last week in the state legislature includes increased support for renewable energy, a greater look into net metering, but did not address energy distribution.  “I do see those as carry over items that we’ll address likely next year, especially since Governor Snyder just wrapped up with his 21^st Century Infrastructure Commission that really put a lot of focus, and energy is one of those subsets—energy infrastructure and how we make sure we have access to those opportunities out in a rural area.”

Smego says legislation in the lame duck session also clarified sales and tax exemptions for ag equipment, extended the timeline for an approved aquatic invasive species list, and created a taskforce for regulating unmanned aerial systems in the state.

AUDIO: Interview with Matt Smego